Procapritermes genus of termites can be call pre-Pericapritermes as the transformation of the mandibles appeared to be moving to the reverse (or back) flick response where the resting or prestrike state have the mandibles crossed. Pericapritermes flicks apparently (from my personal experiment with the palm of my hand as the measuring device) delivers a stronger force than those of Procapritermes.
A worker and soldier of a Procapritermes termite species. Most species of Procapritermes nest in excrement nest build on the ground commonly at the base of a tree. This first species in terms of overall length is shorter, at just over 5 millimeters, than the second species below.
The mandibles of Procapritermes typically are slightly longer proportionately then those of their new world cousin, the Neocapritermes.
In this Procapriternes termite species the left mandible of the soldier already has signs of a wavy curvature which in Pericapritermes is much more pronounced.
Soldiers and workers of a large Procapritermes species.
The soldiers of this Procapritermes (sp2) has a disproportionately longer head. This Procapritermes soldier measured at close to 8 millimeters.
Soldiers of this species of Procapritermes has a very short abdomen that gives it a disproportionate appearance. The head-mandibles is two third of the total length.
Photo below shows the Procapritermes sp2's soldiers against a millimeter tape at around 8 millimeters.
Soldier and worker of Procapriternes setiger ssp2.
Soldier of Procapriternes setiger ssp1.
Procapritermes sp6.
This species resembles Procapritermes setiger above but with more curves in the mandibles and a shorter and thicker head capsule. See more images of this species in the Undocumented Species page.
Procapritermes sp7
A large Procapritermes species, the soldiers measuring over 9 millimeters.
Workers and soldiers of a large Procapritermes species.
A “rocket scientist” wannabe commented that the soldiers of Pericapritermes do not appear to play a significant role in colony defense. I conducted an experiment on the effectiveness of Procapritermes and Pericapritermes soldiers against their common enemy - small ants that may manage to enter into their foraging tunnels or nest passage ways - by dropping three soldiers of this Procapritermes species into a nest of Pheidologeton affinis. The kill rate of these soldiers averaged four Pheidologeton workers each, and this while they were completely overwhelmed and being dismembered. Below are some photos of the Pheidologeton's casualties. The kill rate is better than that on Amitermes, Globitermes and Coptotermes which average less than zero point five.
The head and upper body of this Pheidologeton worker completely flicked off.
'
This minor worker of Pheidologeton suffered a direct hit on the head and is totally dead.
This minor worker of Pheidologeton was hit in the mandibles and knocked out for over half an hour, one half of the mandible completed broken with a part of the antennae.
In the narrow confines of their tunnel passageways these Procapritermes, Paracapritermes and Pericapritermes termites soldiers are formidable opponents. Needless to say unlike Coptotermes and other normal mandibled species Procapritermes, Paracapritermes and Pericapritermes soldiers do not venture out into the open where they become highly vulnerable and ineffective. This might be perceived by some as being non aggressive.
See also:
Procapritermes genus Procapritermes sp(06)
Procapritermes sp
Updated: 2021 07 27
Taxonomy
No rank: cellular organisms
Superkingdom (Domain): Eukaryota
No rank: Opisthokonta
Kingdom: Metazoa
No rank: Eumetazoa
No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria
No rank (Branch): Protostomia
No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa
No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata
No rank: Pancrustacea
Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia
Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
No rank: Polyneoptera
No rank (Superorder): Dictyoptera
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blattoidea
No rank: Termitiodea 1912919
No rank: cellular organisms
Superkingdom (Domain): Eukaryota
No rank: Opisthokonta
Kingdom: Metazoa
No rank: Eumetazoa
No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria
No rank (Branch): Protostomia
No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa
No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata
No rank: Pancrustacea
Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia
Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
No rank: Polyneoptera
No rank (Superorder): Dictyoptera
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blattoidea
No rank: Termitiodea 1912919
Family: Termitidae 46569
Subfamily: Termitinae 92738
Group: Pericapritermes 1934616
Genus: Procapritermes 187580
Posted: 2011 03 12
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